How Gaming became GAMBLING!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ม.ค. 2025
- Gaming these days is hugely influenced by the gambling industry. Between loot crates and microtransactions, fake currencies and random reward schedules, videogames are looking more and more like virtual casinos. Casinos that let in kids.
Hosts: Mike Williams and Gareth Evans
Script: Mike Williams
Editor: Liam Mckelvey
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So this is a bit of a soapbox video from us today but it's something we really feel very strongly about. What do you guys think? Is this a problem? Or maybe we're talking a load of shite.
fist us
fist our asses
Pretty Good Gaming Typical Brits: "People are voluntarily spending money on something we don't like! Get the government to regulate it!" Microtransactions do suck but people are allowed to spend their money on idiotic things.
Somehow I feel Konami is responsible for this or it is one of its Horseman brothers of the Apocalypse..
+Sean but wait jake is polish you are incoreect .
Microtransactions are a fucking plague, but microtransactions where you pay for a uncertain reward(lootboxes) is fucking atrocious. If i wanna drop a few extra bucks on a game i want a certain reward not the chance to fucking get it.
Jarkwel
Gotta love the gaming industry, the only one that thinks I will use real money for the chance to get an item
Jarkwel the sad thing is that since game prices have literally been the same since mid 90th if not longer and gave development costs have increased with a huge margin micro transactionns and DLC is almost a necessity to make profit.
BTW I bought Warcraft 2 back in 97 for about 500 Norwegian kroner, the same amount a AAA game cost to day is Norway.
But random loot boxes is something I really m, really dislike. It encourages gambling that people and especially young people can carry later in their life.
Jarkwel Completely agree
Yeah, that and the almost mandatory season passes (games like R6 siege, destiny, destiny 2, etc) where if you dont have that pass? You'll be missing out/not be able to play with your friends who do have the DLC or pass. Its such a damn divide.
I would prefer if game developers increased the price of their games and gave me everything in side of it.
This includes the DLC and loot boxes.
Go from £60 to £100, even £120 if they have to. At least then I can see from face value if it's worth my money and I know if I do drop £120 on the game then I got the whole package.
Micro transactions should instantly cause a game to have an A rating. For adults only as it requires an ADULT DECISION-MAKING PROCESS.
And they shouldn't cost $60 either. I mean, "You can't eat your cake and have it at the same time", right? Except if you're an AAA publisher. Then you can sell your $60 game with F2P mechanics so you can make money from selling the game AND by microtransactions!
That might actually be an interesting way to take care of this without needing legislation. Most brick-and-mortar stores won't sell games that are rated AO (and publishers still bend to their will even with digital distribution getting bigger) so maybe the publishers would back off a bit if that happened.
Maybe it would break their spirit if they can't make enough money before they find a way around it.
That's actually a really good idea.
Here is an idea. Don’t tie a credit card to your account. Don’t turn on purchases. If it is an adult thing then make the adult choice at the beginning.
VSVadeSatana this is actually a wonderful idea
Greedy ass publishers have ruined gaming, like corporate greed has done with so many forms of entertainment before it. Then you wonder why so many people are nostalgic for gaming of days past, and they sell us that too.
and then they put micro-transactions in the remakes....
It aint just publishers and devs. Its the dickriders that defend it and continue to buy into this bullshit
Only because retards accept and buy into it. If gamers these days had an ounce of common sense they would tell these publishers to fuck right off. Remember if it didn't make monry it would be there.
They should rate all video games that feature gambling for a mature audience only, same as going to a casino.
THEN I want to see how many publishers still use loot crates in. their games!
ADULT ONLY rating, not even just Mature. Many games get Mature since it's just 17+. Gambling should get the AO rating that these publishers hate.
CogniVision indeed 18+
the law is the law
Make it a GAMBLING rating. Not mature, not adult only, just GAMBLING in all caps.
That's actually a good idea
They should remove it in general
Honestly drugdealing is a much better comparison and I have viewed it as such for quite some time now. Main point being that by gambling you can potentially win more than you invested - it's not the case in games, you almost never get anything back.
Nik's Sofa well, yes, there are exceptions everywhere. CS:GO is not the best example as the game developers have nothing to do with third party sites in this case.
Can't name the game off the top of my head, but I do remember that there was a game that let you earn real money by recommending it to other players that would invest.
I guess it has many elements common to both gambling and drug dealing.
speak for yourself. my drugs gave a lot back. i got my girlfriend back now that she's into heroine. i get to see my dad now whenever he needs some keta.
At least in drugdealing, you get what you want. It's not like you pay them, and they let chance decide whether you get marijuana or meth or opioid.
Hey. Can you hook me up with that limited use item that makes my character faster and earn more rep and has a cooldown on "acceptable" use...
Oh wait.. this game is real life.
These practices have been ruining gaming for me, I used to buy too many games. Now i've been avoiding new games and started playing my back log more. I don't have time to waste on games that increase grinds and make games unfun so you feel like paying up.
Exactly, me too. The only way these people will listen is if we stop giving them money.
Have you guys seen the south park episode "Freemium Isn't Free"? Its got a good episode that touches on all the points you made.
Everyone saw it
Beelzeboot!
Im not your Buddy, guy!
"Freemium" - the "mium" is Latin for "not really"
This is the reason why I often buy older game/indie instead lately
No need to PAY for dlc,season pass microtransaction, and loot box bullshit
The game price itself is way cheaper than new one
And they are actually FUN, something that has became secondary objective these day
MeowAlien にゃあエイリアン Same here. Indie game devs(at least 95% of them) actually care about there customers. Shame some people don't give them a chance in favor of watered down FPS/sports games.
Meow Alien~ Me too. And you're right, AAA has forgotten the reason people play games is to have fun. Not to buy "tacky shite". But, to have fun.
I'm more and more going to indie and old proven games to have something I'll actually enjoy.
Agree!
Even 6 years later this is pue factss the golden era will always reign supreme modenr is garbage !
I've noticed this for years the AAA market has become very predatory in their games especially towards kids and teens
Erutanx7 Ironic considering most of those games are rated R or 16/18+
Nice portal pic!
Cuzeg Spiked I didn't think of it that way but yeah you're kind of right
ScreenGames Thx it's a classic
I've decided. Any games I wish to play that has micro transactions in them, i'm going to TORRENT them. IN THEIR FACE!
Yo ho yo ho a pirate's life for me!
The worst is people that defend this by saying it's optional. Even though it is, games have become so revolved around lootboxes and MT that it becomes increasingly difficult to enjoy the game when compared to its predecessor released years ago. Games are becoming a grind fest if you don't pay up
SweetDangos Openned 20 lootboxes last event got 50 credits 5 epics,15 blues and rest were whites.
so dont buy them i sure as shit dont ..loot boxes .. microtrransactions in anyway were i pay for the game .. then no thx .. ill pass and buy some other game that doesnt try to rob me .. plenty more games out there
If it's in the game, it inherently affects said game. It's pretty damn simple.
SweetDangos I'm ashamed that the acronym for Micro Transactions is the same as my initials
Why and who defends this crap? Why cant these idiots see its companies trying take advantage of loyal customers.
I've never bought microtransactions in any game and never will.
FUN FACT: whale is actually a poker term for someone who plays recklessly with their money...in short they suck and are weak lol
Great vid guys ,these gaming companys have milked this cow long enough time to END it...
Yet it won't, so many people defend SoW... Mental... People cannot seem to understand that no one is advertising NEVER buying a microtransaction littered pile of dung... JUST WAIT, let the pile stir and fester, and when it's 5 dollar and get a free BJ to buy it, then enjoy and appreciate what those blobs of cancerous entities that most of "AAA" producers have become.
That's what most gamers advocate, NO ONE BUY SOMETHING FOR AT LEAST A MONTH. NO ONE. When they see that their crap has flopped they'll panic, do it enough times and *maybe* they'll learn.
milked this whale*
Thank you for this video guys
Loot boxes should be illegal in video games, or rated accordingly. I'm glad people are finally talking about this.
Loot Boxes should be illegal period. Even physical loot boxes are just as bad.
Plus they give content creators a no-effort way of getting free views.
Cybernetic Koala you mean selling items that can have advantage over others should be illegal, im fine with some dumb aesthetic items but selling op items for real life money is just unfair
That annoys me too, but getting kids to gamble is fucked up.
Cybernetic Koala only free yo play cans but cant make it to where you can only buy stuff to get the good stuff
Might as well make Trading Cards 18+ because of Booster Packs?
It's even better than gambling for those running the show, because they don't even have to occasionally pay out a large win. They just give you shiny colorful shit that fits in 3 variables in the game.
For all the dumb shit they've been doing, one of the very few companies remaining who aren't following this toxic trend is Nintendo. They still make games that you can just play.
Nintendo isn't following the loot box money grabbing trend, and I don't think they ever will because their alternative is Amiibo. Those are sold seperately and have a tangible value outside the game which is alright. I don't have any, but I'd rather spend money on an Amiibo that I know what I'm getting then to gamble trying to get one item in a sea of shit.
FluteGeek don't give Nintendo ideas now.
Was wondering why pretty much no one mentions this.
Multiverse a few people did now the gambling crap is getting so bad it is becoming more noticeable.
The few intelligent people have spoken up about it for years, and where gaming was headed. Too bad there's so many retards that defend these companies to their dying breath.
why do people defend this sort of shit in full priced games? why do some people insist on defending companies that literally just see customers as potential money to line their pockets with?
I'm f2p on a game that has many dedicated players. Usually people get defensive when others start basically saying they don't know how to spend their money. One person thinking the game isn't worth it doesn't mean others think the same.
It makes me sick that this shit has dribbled over to our actually good games!
What makes me more sick is that there is actually alot of dumbasses that buy those shits. Also, youtubers that fucking upload videos of them throwing away money to show that is possible to get that shinny shitty skin that kids want so they try to get one of their own (I am looking at you Anomaly or whatever his name is)
The fact that it's becoming the norm and people defend these awful companies make it much worse. I blame the psycho execs that enjoy watching people spend money on shitty pseudo gambling items worth nothing!
Pretty good games, too.
Peter Dobson the old ways lost get over it
The only way to fix this is to boycott companies on mass and the bare minimum for those can't resist, buy the game 2nd hand, at least that way your money isn't going to the publishers.
The more exposure this gets the better, don't get me wrong I love a flutter on the gee gees or slots every now and then, but I 100% agree slowly normalising this to kids is fucked up and needs to stop.
This. This is why I love you guys, I've felt this way for a long time, I'm just glad to see someone voice the same opinion I have.
Thanks Dude
RadleyBO0 I've been waiting for these people to finally speak up about this. Glad I'm not the only one anymore
THIS! This is why this channel has quickly become my all time favourite gaming channel. Actual conversations about the morality of games. I would give my left leg to become a part of your team because you actually talk about the important things about games like implications and how it actually affects the games industry and it's customers. This channel is so much better than ones like the Know because you really will think about games with your brains and will say what you really think
Those that are saying things like ‘People voluntarily spending money on idiotic things are allowed to spend their money on idiotic things.’ Might as well say ‘Let paedophiles hang around children’s playgrounds with a packet of sweets in their pockets, it’ll be fine, the kids don’t need to take the sweets, right? Right?’
Predatory practices are predatory.
" Nice comparison you got there. "
This is probably one of the more cogent and valid comparisons I've heard.
Cyphar XIII Very good comparison post.
Except the kiddies are paying for the sweets, with their parents' credit cards apparently. It's not a great analogy.
I have been thinking about this for a while now. Especially in games, which are not rated "mature", gambling in form of lootboxes or simular things, should be considerd illegal. And "mature" rated games, which are using such systems, should contain some kind of warning label like "this game contains gambling, be aware that gambling can make you addicted"
Thank you for raising awarness on this topic, this is not "just about cosmetics", as some people claim, this is about real world cash gambling, gambling for minors and about making people addicted.
I learned everything I know from Southpark
Yeah,its sad micro transactions are consuming triple a games so much. Its a definite turn off for me,its made me skeptical before i buy games anymore.
I couldn’t have said it any better
Subbed not so long ago to your channel, and i have to admit: you guys are amazing!! Keep doing this awesome job! Excited to be a part of "before 1 mil squad"!
Thanks Dude!
They are great. When I subbed they had some odd 5-6k subs and they would reply to almost everyone
Thank you guys for covering this, I feel like if we really make enough noise we might see some change and _that_ would be amazing!
How much you wanna bet that if we made microtransactions "gambling" in the ESRB rating listing and that would make the game M, and then require the age confirmation before buying any in game currency, our problem would be greatly lessened?
Pretty good idea, the parents would save a lot of money by doing so.
Yo I wanna see this actually happen. Is there any way to contact the ESRB and present this idea to them?
And while we are at it they should also be required to add a big red label accross the whole box that says it contains microtransactions. Kinda like how cigarette boxes have to include pictures of people dying off all the crap cigarettes cause (at least in my country its a law, dunno if its like that everywhere)
Gamekeeper At least for now reviewers should start doing this. Any game that has microtransaction lootboxes should be clearly labeled as such in their review.
IGN 10/10 (Gamebling)
Dude that would be perfect!! Many of the publishers who force game designers to put this stuff in would probably do it less just to meet their target age demographic.
Great video.
Apart from disclosure about the odds of getting anything good out of loot creates, they can also raise the age limit on the products that have these "micro transactions" to the legal age of a person who is allowed to gamble in each region, hopefully this will discourage the implementation of such systems in future games.
That would be a dream come true.
Agreed! And their money their choice isn't a good enough excuse. It affects the entire gaming market for the worse and is predatory to the most vulnerable. I'm sick of seeing good games turn to shit because of the need to put in microtransactions. At least showing the chances should be mandatory since game companies have no problem lying and misleading.
Loot boxes, microtransactions, pay to win are all gateways to gambling! And don't even get me started on the battle pass system which basically turns playing a game into working a 2nd job sucking all the fun out of it :/
Was just watching videos on Shadow of War. Having been playing games since the 90s it's quite depressing to see the industry degrade to this scumbaggery. As a kid I never had to worry about this shit. Imagine kids now getting bought games by their parents, only the same day to ask for more money for loot boxes. This is utterly crooked.
I definitely agree with you guys. This video is a very important critique of the industry. I've been saying for awhile that crate and key games have become unregulated gambling for kids. It feels so dirty just writing it. Then again, few modern businesses are more predatory and unscrupulous than the video gaming studios. Could you imagine a car company scamming its consumers like No Man's Sky?
Pray for CD PROJECT RED and Cyberpunk 2077
The only AAA game industry that i still trust. Hope they dont get corrupted by their fame and income from their loyal fans.
If it even comes out
You forgot to include Insomniac, Obsidian, Guerrilla Games, Santa Monica, Ninja Theory, Platinum Games, Kojima Productions and Naughty Dog in the list of good gaming companies.
I think they are fully aware on what their fans want, even something as simple as that happy birthday geralt video they released just shows you how much they understand their customers, they are in a unique position toi of being their own publisher, cutting out the shady middle man, maybe thats the answer, to cut out the middle man.
That Guy just a rumour. There is a website where employees can rate their employers, and cd project red has 3 out 5 stars. But it's just one website, and honestly how many people are going to take time out of the day to rate a good review compared to a bad review.
A friend at work has a 10 year old son. They got them an Xbox One as well as FIFA. Over the course of 8 months they spent £2,000 on FIFA coins. They apparently changed the password etc. a couple of times but were obviously outwitted by a 10 year old. I couldn't believe it when they told me. When confronted by his parents the child said he didn't know because it was just virtual currency. After the first time however he was hooked and felt left behind his friends who had special player through this exchange of FIFA coins and kept doing it.
Publishers: why make some of the money when you can make all of the money!
People need to know about this. With all those corporate, built on profit gaming news sites, its a breath of fresh air to see you guys always stand up for the actual gamer and for the dignity of gaming. I love all of you guys` content. Keep doing what youre doing.
Thanks For Making This Video,God Damn These Greedy Bastards
Scientific American published an article called "How the Brain Gets Addicted to Gambling-
Addictive drugs and gambling rewire neural circuits in similar ways" So yes, saying publishers are like drug dealers is accurate, imo. Gambling, like ingesting certain drugs, releases dopamine in the brain, which some can become addicted to. I agree with others who are saying these games should be labeled Gambling/Adult Only. If this micro-transaction/loot-crate fever is the future of "AAA", then I'll just spend my money else where.
Ya know what doesnt have premium currency, Dark Souls 3, the world needs more Dark Souls.
Tactical Cheeze bloodborne and dark souls are great examples of what good dlc practices are. Some indie games ive played do this same thing as well
Ben Klein God, I loved Bloodborne's dlc. And I believe it was only 20 USD at launch, right? Possibly the only game I've ever wanted to have more dlc.
Worst part about dark soul 2 is how they downgraded the game and then sold it as an "upgrade" 1 years later for $20.
I've honestly been saying this for YEARS now!! And im so glad someone with an audience is awknowledging and taking steps to combat it, no one could be better than you fine lot! Lovin you guys SO much! Keep up the awesome work!!
45 whale already disliked this video, how on earth could you not be ok with this video? Only possibility is that you work for EA
JakeOcowell They could be people with addictive personalities. It can give them a kind of high, and this kind of video seeks to take that away from them. To us, it might be obvious that it's exploitative and wrong, but that doesn't mean much to some of the people sucked into it. Also, some people are just apathetic about these things and don't care that they exploit "dumb" people.
Probably weabs with their waifu gambling shit games on mobile
may be they don't like the people making the video.
What also happens is that children sometimes pressure their parents into spending money, just like when it comes to toys or food or candy. Also, it is possible for children themselves to end up being pressured into spending money in a game because "all of my friends have it", "but John has it", "everyone in class has it", and they don't want to be left out. This happens particularly with DLC's of co-op or multiplayer games or the actual games themselves.
if we don't get this regulated we are going to have a lot of people getting tired of being burned by having these bullshit micro transactions to the point most won't bother buying any game that even has the faint whisper of "micro transactions" or "loot boxes". people will rather buy actual games.
Such an important TRUTH. Your most important and best video by far, and first title I've seen to call a pig a pig. This is true journalism that puts TV news to shame. Fantastic on you guys. I've been saying this forever, and been wondering why no one was saying it.
What ever happened to dlc expansions?.... I don't want loot boxes, chests, etc.
I want huge expansions like the ones seen in elder scrolls
tubabluba789
I mean, the witcher had massive expansions.
I got over 40 hours off of blood and wine, without even playing all the side missions
Thanks for making this guys, stay awesome.
This will be a short lived phenomenon as laws catch up and regulate these games in the same way that casinos are regulated.
You guys are absolutely amazing. I cannot thank you enough for what you do.
Gaming? More like Gamebling.
Gambling is considered "gaming" by many governments. Gaming laws are made specifically to regulate gambling. As such, the word "gaming" is enough.
John Crafton lol diamond encrusted controller and gold-plated console.
Dude, I can just imagine someone ballin' right now with that kind of setup. They probably eat gold-foil flakes just to make their poop sparkle.
thank you so much for making this video, it needed to be said and shared amongst the gaming community.
I never spent a penny on microtransactions ingame (Althought I bought some games myself, some without ever finishing, which is another problem), but I kind of understand how people become gaming "whales" due to them.
Imagine you spent an annoying ammount of money to buy something in a game, you get that feeling that you just wasted your money on that trash you received, then, on an attempt to make yourself believe that the money was actually "well spent" you start spending even more money on that account and playing a lot more it, so that you can have a very shiny player that makes you feel you actually got something different from other players.
It is really depressing, and these people really need our support and the gaming cassinos need to be regulated.
Lucas Lemos what you described above are symptoms of a gambling addiction.
Indeed. It's sad that most people doesn't understand what is addiction, of any kind. So people who get addicted to things like drugs or gambling are often seen like monsters who should be excluded from society instead of people that need help. We need more empathy on society, don't we?
I usually do not comment on videos, however you are right on the money with this one and I think it's great to see a gaming media outlet actually cover this topic. It's a disgusting industry practice that is slowly becoming more normalized. I would love to hear an update video on this topic if you discover any new progress the industry is taking to rectify this "hidden" gambling.
woo extremely eye opener for a parent that was completely relaxed with Roblox... OMFG !!
Wait, how bad is the micro-s in that game?
Pedro Catarino You're a noob and so is your noob kid
Go take a look its full of that s**t, it's not mandatory to play but the pressure on kids its enormous, the clothes or "skins", badges, access to popular moded games, the reveneu that LUA programers make can be reverted to real life money and this is when things get really shady. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roblox
Keep this up please! Finally someone with recognition is bring this to light. Hopefully you spawn a movement
One thing you are missing here is, that those 'whales' are proud they have money to spend and that they are not 'plebs' cringy about every penny spent. Those skins and 'aesthetics' exists so dumbasses can show 'I have money and I'm better than you'.
Han Lockhart don't be silly, the system never disappeared and never will
I hope Pretty Good Gaming reads this. This is why I subscribed. We live in a world where ads lie to you daily. Every toothpaste makes your teeth whitier than the other and every car is better than the last. Companies use all kinds of methods to get people to use their hard earned money for their products. Gaming industry using gambling methods on children. But it's ok because everyone else is doing it too. It happens so much that we consider all of this normal.
I see that losers club shirt, I loved that movie
One of your Best videos yet! As a veteran gamer from the good old C64 days, this stuff kills me.
Problem is there's a generation growing up, where this is their only or first experience of gaming and the mircotransactions don't stand out. Unless we kick this sh*t out of the gaming scene now it'll get normalised and we'll be stuck with it.
This was looked into 4 years ago by the OFT and the findings they published if I remember correctly just ended along the lines of "they need to make it clear the user is spending real money" and "tell people the game has micro transactions before they download it or buy it" , the whole report was b*llsh*t and it does seem like they are not willing to make any real change for the better until the damages to a generation has been done. Just like with real gambling at a bookies, it took decades to fix. But when the gaming industry in the UK brings in £1.1 billion to the GDP in 2016 alone , I doubt they'll be quick to make any change.
One of the BEST videos I've seen from you guys.. this topic needs to be more talked about
Great video, you guys! I think it's awesome that you don't pull any shit, and you actually give a (pretty) good name to games journalism with thoughtful and mature content unlike some who either try to be ~edgy or screech about women invading ~their games etc. Keep up the good work!
Thanks very much!
This channel deserve more subscribers, good job!
+Pretty Good Gaming What is your opinion on microsoft and Turn 10? Their Forza series includes: Ultimate edition game which doesn't include season pass, Single player microtransactions in the form of loot boxes, In game currency to buy cars, where a Bugatti costs as much as £43. I see WB get a lot of shit over shadow of war, and I see destiny take heat too. But Turn 10 may easily be the worst out there, and no one has covered it really. Just interested in your opinion, especially on the outlandish cost of that Bugatti. For comparison, i think need for speed lets you unlock all their cars early for £8ish.
Nik's Sofa you've never heard of Forza? That's bullshit. Anyways forza isn't the worst for super expensive items. Warframe bud. Thing about warframe is that it's actually fun.
+Elizabeth Ptrevenkoy Yeah warframe and games like world of tanks are notorious for expensive in game items, but the difference is they are free to play. Whereas you have to spend £55 for FH3 or FM7, and then they charge you for that bullshit. I don't mind it in games like Dota 2 as much, I even have skins in dota 2 worth hundreds each.
Microtransactions killed Halo 5, it's super bloated pool of RNG trash. In Gears 4 it's more of a minor nuisance but a problem nonetheless.
Microsoft needs to fuck off with microtransactions in their exclusives. Hell, Sony even put them in Uncharted 4, a damn single player game! Nintendo is the last to not have MT's if I'm not mistaken, and that's if you don't count some shady uses of Amiibos.
Jacob Smith I've had every forza since 4 and I don't think I've ever spent money on a microtransactions. I mean I've bought a couple cars packs i thought were cool but I consider that DLC. Which I don't agree with but I understand it. Also im not getting you're bugatti argument, money is pretty easy to make on forza
+yung jizz sock My "argument" isn't that you can't earn the forza currency for the bugatti (even though 2.8M isn't easy to make it would take around 20-25h), my argument is that you can also earn all of the items in all the games that get massively criticised. Shadow of war, Destiny 2, overwatch etc all drop these items for free over time, but there is massive criticism against all these games in the industry. At least if you watch the same content I do. But somehow Turn 10 have committed every "sin" known to the industry, and yet I have never seen a single channel say anything. I was just interested why they get a free pass.
You might not be the kind of person to spend £43 on a car, but there are "whales" out there that spend £1000's on these games. Look at the forza horizon 3 reviews on windows store, about 30-40% of the reviews were one stars from people who bought the ultimate edition thinking the DLC would come with it.
I've been chatting with friends about this very subject lately. Good video on the subject, I just hope the right people sit up and take notice.
Kinda like how TH-cam keeps asking me to pay for TH-cam Red so I can avoid all those annoying ads. Except my brain has already learned the art of blanking out ads from a lifetime of crap TV.
Daniel Liddicoat PREACH
Thank you so much for bringing this to attention. We really need to see change in this market.
I see that shirt, good reference to IT there.
ChadOfStats was here looking for this comment
SJ Prat glad someone realised it also :)
That Twin Peaks scene :D
HEEELLOOOO-OO-OOOH
h3h3 also made a video about gaming and gambling its ok in f2p games but in 60$ games like shadow of war is a single player expierence fuck my english :P its really insane if they just want money and not make people happy with gaming :(
Best video I've seen from your channel. Definitely a message that needs to be heard.
If you listen hard enough you can hear the screams of negligent parents as their bank accounts are raped for hundreds of dollars by their kids playing these cancerous "games".
Well, negligent parents deserve that...
What also happens is that children sometimes pressure their parents into spending money, just like when it comes to toys or food. Also, it is possible for children themselves to end up being pressured into spending money in a game because "all of my friends have it", "but John has it", "everyone in class has it", and they don't want to be left out. This happens particularly with DLC's of co-op or multiplayer games.
I love way you put in a clip in from Series 2 from The Wire. Classy ;)
I need some goddamn regulation up in this shit.
I like these guys more and more, from the hilarious outtakes to genuine seemingly 'bullshit' free views on gaming. Good Stuff !
I'm 100% fine with the gambling / loot crate system if there is an option to either get one randomly just for playing or by using a currency that is earned in game. League of Legends does this well with it's Hextech Crafting crates and keys, key fragments can be bought from the shop for "Riot Points" (real money converted to points) or they can be acquired randomly just by playing the game. The crates in the game can also be purchased or they can be unlocked by either yourself or a teammate achieving an S rank or higher in a match, I always found it to be a fair system as the shit inside the boxes are either champion shards which lets you get a champion for free / discounted price or is the only free way to get skins within the game, if every game was this way it would be fine, sadly that isn't the case.
Then you're 100% fine with being exploited. "You can earn everything in game" is the excuse they have used from the start to allow them to add in paid RNG. EVERYTHING is designed to get you to spend more money in these systems, and make the game uncomfortable enough to spend. Dont fall for any of it.
I've spent a total of £0.00 on League of Legends and I've never purchased a microtransaction in any game because they're horseshit, things you can earn by playing are perfectly fine, RNG or not.
At least give a better example. League has the worst lootbox system out of any game out there. You get only one chest out of 20 games to get the most useless shit (champion shards or summoner icons). And as if it's not enough, as you earn chests and keys (which you have to be good at the game to get), they reduce your chances of earning key FRAGMENTS with each one you earn. So you're more than lucky if you can unlock more than 3 boxes A MONTH. Are you kidding me? I open at least 3 boxes on Overwatch A DAY, and they give me 4 rewards that unlock immediately (Without sacrificing or disenchanting my other rewards).
It's only lootbox system I know, Overwatch seems to probably be the best but I don't own it so I have no reference.
This video is actually really effective at explaining to people that aren't gamers, what is going on. should share this so more people can see it.
So it was fine when Hearthstone did it? Or wait, are card boosters different? That opens up a whole 'nother can of worms in itself.
Its a free to play game. Those pretty much get a pass because you don't have to pay anything upfront to play it. The problem is when full retail price games do that shit.
AndresLionheart Sure it is free to play both even in free to play there are differents. Hearthstone has kind of loot crates just in form of card packs and that is not a good practice because you do not see what you get, in simple terms just gambling. I remeber back in the days when I played lol they had only skins and champions you could buy no loot crates. That is fine because you see what you get and nothing else but then they introduced a similar system and I stopped. I do not know what it is now. The point is along it is not random it is fine because then you know what you get.
Card games have been doing it for so long with booster packs that it is a different beast we'd have to tackle. At least back in real life card games you could actually buy individual specific cards at legit stores online, and the booster packs were a way of getting more cards for you money, even if random.
Video games being even worse since they are hard coded to give you terrible odds.
CogniVision this is the main points that's being missed. You can't buy individual cosmetic or items in majority of games today. You either buy the lootbox or don't get it at all. You're FORCED to buy it if you want an item. Whereas in the past, if it was in a loot box, you could still purchase the individual item. Imagine if Mortal Kombat X had loot boxes for it's characters, where if you wanted the DLC character you had to buy the lootbox. That wouldn't make any sense but for some reason it's the norm for other games.
This is by far your best and most honest video yet I tip my hat to you well done.
That's why I don't buy fucking Robucks for my 8 year old brother, I hate the fact that in order to get this crazy content you must spend even more money on a $60 you've been waiting for 😑! Nice video though, that's why I get away from video games nowadays and draw more 😌!
Kwanza Gourrier Roblox is already free though.
Seriously? My brother once mentioned that you can get mods or something.
Let's not forget to mention the influence that younger audiences have from streamers and youtubers, who sometimes dedicate entire streams and/or youtube episodes to opening (absurd amounts of) lootboxes. Watching streamers or youtubers nowadays resembles watching movies, series, or listening to music/bands, it keeps you in the loop of what your friends talk about, because you don't want to be left out (just like Game Of Thrones).
I will admit I'm a whale probably spent 100k over the years on games purely because im impatient and don't want to wait. Not proud of it and a lot of the games I don't even play anymore haha
Wow man, that's something I've not heard admitted before. 100 k is no joke, life-destroying for most people. Would you care to do a video or write down what happened to you. People really need to know just how bad these predatory gaming models can be. The only way to start to change this is by letting people know real harm comes of it.
100k over a few years isn't that much think about it the average salary is around 30-50k and im talking about the course of years like 7-8 years and I have no children so I basically just spend money on crappy games+food etc.
Facehugger89 100k could buy a house
Im glad youve recognised it as a problem and hope you dont get get pulled in any more
Kind of agree with the other guy, maybe it doesnt sound too bad to you but there are a lot of people/general public who'd be quite shocked and it might go some way to changing these practises
so true. It's amazing how a lot of media loves to dig into games about bullshit like that they turn kids into murderers etc, but they completely ignore the genuine and terrible problem of micro transaction gambling. I really hope this gets picked up and spoken about more because you guys are right it's a scary and filthy thing.
Can someone who down voted this video able to explain why they did?
They're probably the whales
Final fantasy opera omnia. Belgium has banned three square enix games including FFDOO because of their gambling aspect
Square enix cough cough
Yeah~~~ they are shit. >_>
But once in a blue moon when turd comes out in reverse spiral, rare mobile game they make is easy to f2p >_>
I'm so glad you are covering this. These practices are ruining games and gaming and are creating a huge problem for the future.
Yooooo I rate that shirt, lo V er
I've said this ever since CS:GO came out with the loot boxes, that you open with money. It's basically a slot machine, with all associated mechanics: loss of money, promise of the prize being worth more than the investment. With the in game sales, it's exactly like gambling, but for kids.
Unbelievably pathetic!!!!, let the gaming industry crash please!!!!..
There is still Nitendo that should join in the trend before it gets butchered.
Fire emblem heroes already joined that trend
This is the best (and very important) topic ever discussed on this channel!
If you want a game without that rng shit just buy titan fall 2
THE FISH KING look how many players that game got fucking broken piece of shit with unbalanced weapons
noxchimoon MB Titanfall 2 multiplayer is completely garvage. Unbalanced weapons and it's all bullshit. The story is one of the best fps campaign though
Andrew legit no idea what people are talking about, the gun balance is pretty decent. Alternator, car, spitfire dominate but all the guns except the snipers are viable. Grenadiers are underused, seriously pick up the cold war or epg
charlie rose I use to love Titanfall but after monarch reign update the game kinda sucked I kept getting killed with the r201 and g2 and it pissed me off I haven't played in 2 months by now
noxchimoon MB Its just skins tho its not affecting the gameplay...
Really glad I recently found this channel. Another really good video
Don't play aaa games
Play Persona 5
Play persona 5, Nier Automata, Nioh, and Ys 8.
One of your best video that I've saw. Great guys. Keep going
I don't think the answer is getting the government involved in videogames that's always a terrible idea. Just speak with your wallets and have some responsibility over yourself and your children. Our government has called for videogame bans in the past do we really want them to start looking into regulating them?
Yes, yes we do.
Mackenzie Lowe I'm afraid we've crossed that line. Graphic content was one thing, but this issue is literally exposing children to gambling. We need regulation.
El Perro Loco well there are a couple problems with that. First one loot boxes and the like are not legally gambling at least not in the U.S. you would have to change the definition since you are not actually receiving any income back. A definition change to things like loot boxes would then allow things even as simple as baseball cards to be considered gambling and no one complains about those. Also I dislike the children argument. A child should not have access to a credit card or a way to pay for these kind of things I have to ask when I hear this is where are the parents in this situation. The answer is more simple than involve the government it's called if you disagree with micro transactions simply do not buy games with them in it for yourself or your children. Be responsible and draw your own lines if enough of us don't buy the games they won't make enough money to keep implementing crappy micro transaction systems.
I don't think you watched the whole video.
+Mackenzie Lowe I agree with you. Kids shouldn't have acces to 18+ games and even if they do, never their parents' creditcard. The thing I find annoying though isn't the extra items stuff. It's the fact that certain items or dlc that should just be in the game, or be a free update are left out of the game, to then be released for extra money. It's like call of duty:
1 you buy the full game
2 you have acces to everything that the game has to offer
3 BUT if you want those good looking guns you have to pay extra
Can't we all just play with the good looking guns?! I mean why does my gun look like it has dirt and rust all over? The "buy supply drop" button looks like the "maybe get that crappy shit and rust of your weapon" button to me.
Great vid guys, preach! I love the fact you always express my thoughts exactly how I would myself.